The South Wales Star

A BARRY DOCK SOLICITOR AND HIS GROCERY BILL. Mr. T. H. Parker, solicitor, of Barry Dock was sued at the Cardiff County Court on Wednesday for £5 13s. 9d., for groceries supplied by Herbert E. Bosley. Mr. Belcher appeared for plaintiff, and in his examination of the defendant he elicited that his professional earnings for the past twelve months had amounted to £ 300.—Defendant: I have had ncthing since the judgment. — His Honour A professional man who gets £ 300 a year regular earnings, and a good deal more from somewhat irregular ones, ought to pay £5 13s. 9d. for groceries.—Defendant said he could not pay at once, but Mr. Belcher asked for an order.-His Honour Ten days, suspended for 14.

THE BANKRUPTCY OF A BARRY DOCK BUILDER. At the Cardiff Bankruptcy-court on Tuesday the public examination of William James Jeffries, of Barry Dock, was commenced before the Registrar. —Mr. Pratt, Newport, was for the petitioning creditor, and Mr. Baker (Messrs. Reid and Cook) for the debtor.—The debtor stated that he had been in business as a grocer, but in 1888 he started as a speculative builder at Barry, though knowing nothing of the business. Mr. Hughes, solicitor, found some of the money, and Messrs. Reid and Cook the rest. He had also borrowed money from friends. He kept no books except a wages book. He built altogether 11 shops and 19 cottages. He paid interest at the rate of 5 per cent. to Reid and Cook, and at the rate of 10 per cent. to Mr. Hughes. He also raised money on moitgages on the property, paying 5 and 6 per cent. interest. He took two pieces of ground in his wife's name and erected houses on them, and she had sold them to Mr. Molyneux, of Queen-street, Cardiff. He did not know what price was paid for them, so he was not present when the purchase was completed. The houses in question were let out at contract, and he merely superintended the building of them. Several parties did the work. A Mr. Jones did the carpentering for £ 14 a house.—Mr. Stephens That's rather a common name.—Mr. Pratt What Jones was it?-The debtor John Jones.—Mr. Pratt: Where does he live ?-The debtor I cannot tell you. A man named Marsh, who lived some, where in Barry, took the contract for plastering at 48 a house. The pluming and papering w?re not finished yet. He could not tell how much of the purchase money was due. His wife kept no banking account.-The further examination was adjourned to the 20th of April,

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MORGAN THOMAS, FERNDALE, Mr. Morgan Thomas was born at Clifton, near Bristol, in the year 1855, and is, therefore, 37 years of age. He is full of energy and activity, and his work on the County Council has been commented upon by some of the most prominent politicians of South Wales. His father, Mr. Morgan H. Thomas, has been for the la-t six years a member of the Llanwonno School Board. Councillor Thomas left Clifton sixteen years ago, and, owing to the tailing health of his father, joined in the business which that. gentleman had established at Ferndale. He was educated at the Bristol Grammar School, and took certificates in Latin and Mathematics, and the first-class certificate in divinity. After leaving school he went into an office, and was a clerk on the Bristol and Exter Railway for two years. On leaving that company lie. remained at Bristol for some years. On arriving at Ferndale he joined the English Wesleyan Church, and in thin church he has shown his ability to a large extent during the time he has resided in the Rhondda Vuch Valley. He was presented with a fine timepiece on the ijtll of March. 1891. in recognition of his valuable ser- vices as superintendent. He has also taken a pro- minent part in all public matters appertaining to the town, and was for a long time the local secre- tary'of the Rhondda Lobonr and Liberal Associa- tionand the East Glamorgan Association. He was also one of the tradesmen who inaugurated the Ferndale Chamber of Trade. He was married in September. 188-3. at Clifton, to Mi-s Annie Taylor, daughter of Mr. George Taylor, Clifton, Bristol. His first public post lie obtained was on the County Council, when, in consequence of the death of the late Mr. David Davies. Bodring- .Lllt,. he was selected at the joint meeting of the Ferndale and Mardv Association, as the Liberal candidate, after several names had been submitted. Mr. Thomas found, after his selection, that he was to be opposed, and Mr. W. Thomas. Brynawel. was pitted against him. Mr. M. Thomas, however fought the battle en strictly party grounds, relying for his support entirely upon the workman and tradesmen of the district, and was returned by a triumphant majority of 95 votes. Since his selection he has paid close attention to the business of the Council, and has not lost one meeting or committee meeting. It was due to Councillor Thomas's untiring energy and staunch adherence to duty that it was decided to establish i polling station for all elections at Mardy. He also obtained the unanimous voice of the Council in favour of the nolice-court for Ferndale, but had since found out that the Council had no jurisdiction in this matter. Councillor Thomas also succeeded in obtaining a majority of the Council in calling upon the Government to so amend their Local Government Act that. in future the chief constable should be elected by the Council. Mr. Thomas's next step was to move a vote calling upon the Government to amend their Free Education Act, so that all schools should be placed under proper control. His last motion. however, which was objected to on technical grounds, was a resolution in favour of Mr. Alfred Thomas's National Institutions' Bill. The public may be able to judge of his oratorical powers by the fact that he was one of the speakers selected by the Disestablishment campaign to speak in favour of the Welsh Disestablishment question in the English Counties. He has also been selected to speak further on the question at different places during the course of the recently inaugurated campaign. It would be superfluous to add that Councillor Thomas is an advanced Radical, an ardent supporter of Mr. Gladstone, and an energetic member of the Young Wales Party. He has been asked by most of the Liberal Associations of South Wales to advance the principles of Liberalism in different parts of the Principality. and wherever he goes he is received and welcomed as none but those who have obtained prominent positions as Welsh politicians would be received. During the present County Council elections his services are eagerly sought for by the Radical champions of the different divisions of Glamorgan- shire.

DlUullAJr xlliJAL SiVUKJii <J* 1 MR. IDRIS WILLIAMS. i Mr. Idris Williams who in one sense has pro- perly been termed the patriarch of the Rhondda Valley," is the Liberal candidate for the Cymmer iivision of the Glamorgan County Council. He is < the son of the late Mr. Edward Williams and his wife Jane, and was born on April 19th, 1838, at the Porth Farm. It will be seen, therefore, that he is only 56 years of age yet his white hair and long flowing beard make him an object of attrac- tion in the valley. During his early career he received but a. scant education, and when only nine years of age left the home farm and began to work as a haulier in the Cymmer pit. At 16 he was sent to a school at Cardiff kept by Mr. Wm. Evans, commonly called Bill-my-stick," and it is worthy of note that this was at that time con- sidered one of the best schools in the district. Young ldris stayed at Cardiff for two years, and was then apprenticed to a carpenter in Pontypridd. He completed his apprenticeship in 1854. worked as a carpenter at the Cymmer pit until 1855, when he was joined in the bonds of holy matrimony at the early age of 19, to Mary, the daughter of"the Rev. Joshua Evans of Cymmer, who has ever since been to him a dutiful and loving wife. About this time Mr. Williams began to take a local interest in educational matters, and in 1856 a National School was established at Cymmer, but no children were allowed to.atend this school unless they also attended the Church school on Sundays. This naturally led to a, general exodus of young children from the Nonconformist Chapels. as no other means of education was available, with the exception of a school connected with the colliery, to which the children of the general public were not admitted. Mr. Williams, quick to notice the great injustice to Nonconformity, set about estab- lishing a public school, and on a quarter-of-an- acre of land, generously granted by his mother, he erected a public school-house, the expense of which was jointly borne by him and Mr. Joseph Roes. Brynheylog. This school was eventually trans- ferred to the Llanwonno School Board, when that body was established in 1870. We next see Mr. Williams, who has always been an advanced Liberal, and a zealous Independent, or Congrega- tionalist, leading an attack on the Established Church at Llantrissant in 1866. The late Rev. Canon Jones, then Vicar of Llantrissant, wanted to levy a church rate in order to repair the church of that parish, and, at the request of a sturdy band of Nonconformist. Mr. Idris Williams lead the attack on the Church at a vestry meeting then held. and defeated the intrigues of the rev. canon f, I by an overwhelming majority. Among the load- ers of the Church party was the late Mr. Thomas Evans, father of the present Lord Mayor of Lon- don. and who at that time was assistant overseer of the Parish of Llantrissant. The debate on the question had become tame, and Mr. Williams rose and said that memorable sentence, which even to this day is so well remembered. 11 Now. gentlemen, vote. Why do you stand there like 'delves. A vote was immediately taken, and the amend- ment, against levvi'i" +he ii-uro v,-as carried with enthusiasm. In 1869 Mr. Williams was appointed relieving officer for the district of Ystradyrodwg and. wnea the Education Act was passed, he was elected a member of the Llanwonno School Board. The Education Department, however, set their face against his election on the ground that he was a public officer, and he had to resign his seat. He was appointed an assistant overseer for the parish of Ystradyfodwg in 1S75, and in 1873 was again elected, unopposed, a member of the Llan- wonno School Boa,d. where he has since sat as vice-chairman. Three years ago he contested the County Council election, but was defeated by Mr. (now Alderman) J. Jones Griffiths in a triangular fight, a Conservative also being beaten. He was nominated for the same seat again this year, but as the labour party were anxious to secure the seat for a working man in the person of Mr. Morgan Williams, the subject of our sketch with- drew. At present lie is a candidate for the Cym- mer and Williamstown Ward, but a labour and Liberal candidate will contest the seat against him. Mr. Williams has taken a prominent part in most local public affairs since his marriage, and will un- douhtedly making all an excellent 'councillor. He has two daughters married to prominent No:ie»n- mist ministers.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MR. MORGAN WILLIAMS. Mr. Morgan Wil latins was born in Carmarthen- shire, and when but a twelve month old came with his parents to live in the Rhondda Valley. The earlier part of his life was spent at Treherbert, whence he removed to Forth, and during his residence in that town he has taken a prominent part in public affairs. He has been elected to t-erve on the executive of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Colliers Federation. He is an Ivorite and a Rechab- ite. and, therefore, a staunch supporter of the Tem- perance cause. Being an ardent Liberal, he, of course, espouses the Newcastle Programme. He was selected by a. large majority out of a number of Liberal candidates named, to contest the sitting Councillor, Mr. Thomas Jones, of Ynyshir, and we h:ivc every reason to believe that he will head the poll with a very large majority. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MR. T. P. JENKINS. J.P. Mr. T. P. Jenkins, J.P., who has taken the field against Mr. Councillor William Williams, of Tony- pandy. is descended on both sides from old military families. He was torn at Argoed, near Tredegar in the year 1844, and when only seven years of age he lost his father. Eighteen months after his mother married the second time, and emigrated to America. Mr. Jenkins, went to a school kept by Mr. Worsfold. but when only nine years old was obliged to work for his living as a collier for eight years. He then became a platelayer on the Sirhowy Railway, and subequently worked an the Mid-Wales. He was soon promoted to be a ticket collector on the T.V.R., and subsequetly an inspector (the youngest inspector on record) under the same company. His health gave way, and he was obliged to retire from this work, and two years afterwards established a grocery and bakery business at Dinas. and subsequently a confec- tionery establishment at Tonypand. He presided at the meeting which subsequently led to the establishment of the Rhondda Chamber of Trade, and took a very prominent part in the fight for a labour representative for the Rhondda. Having succeeded in this he was made present of the Rhondda Labour and Liberal Association, and when he retired from the office having done his duty well and conscientiously for five years, lie left in the hands of the association the handsome balance of £600. He appointed the "First Labour Magistrate for Wales" in 1888, and has on the Bench given entire satisfaction to all parties v/ho camp before him. He also took an active part in the great railway strike of 1890, taking the side of the men, and speaking in their favour. It is said that Mr, Jenkins has no superior among the unpaid magis- trates of the kingdom in point of penetration into difficult cases, power of discrimination, and sound and conscientious judgment, and there can be no doubt, as many eminent men have said, that when the history of the Rh. >ndda comes to !»e written, the name of Mr. T .Tc-»v--i»s will O.MV- «. nrominent. position. In politics, he is a. thorough Liberal, and a st.much sopp Mr. Gi.iusio >md his New- cist le urogram me Daring the first C-untv Council elections. M" .fenkin* supported such Liberals as Councillor Blandy Jenkins and Alderman W. H. Morgan, ami <(:;]"1'11<:1' met v. ,th tile l11ù:;ti flattering ri-ce iptions. lie make a gocd fight against Mr. Williams, but opinions arc divided as to which of the two will be returned.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 1\IIL THOMAS LEWIS. The subject of our sketch was born on Mar.h 8, 1831, at Nghaerysgol. near Tonyrefail. His father was also a native of the same place, where, too, our Archdruid Morien." first saw the light, and with which his many interesting associations of early boyhood are connected. His educational career was commenced at the British School, "America Vach." a place so-called situate near Forth, Rhondda Valley, on account of the New York Inn being at the entrance. After remaining some years here he completed his school days nearer home. Thirteen years ago he removed to Ponty- rhil. in the Garw Valley, where he opened business as a grocer. It may be stated that his father was one of the pioneers of steam coal enterprise in the Garw Valley, about 16 years ago. Pontyrhil was at this time the chief centre of population for the Garw district. After remaining there about twelve months he weat for a trip over the Atlantic, remaining in Pennsylvania for about six months. During iiis stay there he became reduced to pecuniary straits, and worked underground as a timberman. Subsequently. he again returned to the Garw Valley, and opened business at Ponty- cymmer in the premises now occupied as a post- office. In about two years time his business grew, and he was obliged to remove to the larger premises he now occupies at Commercial-place. He evidently was destined for public honours, for at the forma- tion of the Ogmore and Garw Local Board, six years ago, he was selected as a candidate, but owing to a certain informality in the nomination papers he was precluded from contesting the election. Not- withstanding this misfortune, however, three years ago he was duly nominated and elected as labour representative to a seat om the board, the duties of which seat he has creditably sustained. Ever to the fore in local matters, Mr. Lewis has been identified with many of the institutionR of the district, chief among which is his connection with the famous nude voice party and the Noddfa Baptist Choir, being regarded as one of their chief supporters. He is entrusted with the treasurership of the local corps of the Salvation Army. He has also identi- fied himself very prominently in connection with a movement towards establishing a Town-hall in the Garw Valley, and an a result of his activity in this direction lie lic,s received promises tewards it amounting to nearly £ 700. Mr. Lewis proclaims hiimvlf as a Radical and Labour representative. He is in full sympathy with working men, who recognised him as their representative by placing- him on the Ogmore and Crurw Local Board, and also more recently desiring him to stand as a guardian for the Bettws parish. It is singular that Mr. Lewis' 31et birthday will be thejoccasion when his position in this election will be made known. AN EXPLANATION. We regret that we have failed to obtain the por- traits and biographies of Mr. Moses Moses. Peny- gring.and Mr.CouncilIor Williams, Tonypandv. Our reporter called upon the gentlemen named, but owing, doubtless, to the hurry and excitement of election times, those gentlemen were unable to furnish our representatives with what was re- quired.

THE ORGANISATION OF LABOUR IN THE RHONDDA. The monthly delegate meeting of the Cambrian Miners' Association was held at Ystrad on Monday- last to discuss the question of organisation, Mr. James Bowen in the chair. It will be remembered that at the last meeting a resolution was passed recommending the retention of the present organisation subject to certain improvements, and that every fair play and inducement be given to form lodges at each colliery.—Mr. W. Evano, eub-agent^ having called the roll it was found that out of 37 collieries represented, ;!1 were for, whilst six re- mained neutral. The following circular was re- ceived from the Joint Committee of the Sliding Scale representatives and the South Wales and Monmouthshire Colliery Workmen's Federation, recommending That W there shall be a uniform monthly contribution to each district fund of no less than 6d. per member, 2d. of which shall go to form a central fund, each district to support 15 per cent. of its members in case of strikes or lock-outs, but when having more than 15 per cent. out they shall be entitled to support from the central fund." —Mr. W. Abraham, M.P. (Mabon) and Mr. W. Evans. sub-agent opposed the scheme, and the former explained that he was not present at the meeting when the recommendation was adopted. In his opinion, the proposal was not a practical one, for they required something more sensitive. It was finally depided that the recommendation should be submitted to the several collieries.

DRUNKEN SAILORS AT BARRY. At the Cardiff offices of the Penarth Magistrates* Clerk on Tuesday, two able-bodied aeamen, nam ad William Davidson and John Cain, of the steamship Galcorm Castle, now lying in Barry Dock, were brought up before Mr. J. S. Corbett and Mr. John. Duncan, charged with being drunk and disorderly and assaulting Police-conetable Hancock on Mon- day afternoon.—The constable stated that the prisoners were the centre of a large crowd in Station-road. Both were drunk to the verge of mad- ness. One of them had unsheathed a large knife. and brandished it about in that manner peculiar to those who have imbibed not wisely, but too well. The other was endangering the heads of the in- terested lookers-on by capering about with a belt. This morning the prisoners were penitent enough, and said they knew nothing of what had happened. Davidson was sent to gaol for 14 days, and Cain fined 5¡¡;. and costs, or three days.

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE. 11TH COMPANY 2ND GLAMORGAN ARTIL- LERY VOLUNTEERS. COMPAXY ORDERs.-Barry Dock, 4th March. 1892. —Drills for the week commencing 7th of March, 1892:—Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9th, 10th, and 11th, Gun Drill. H fltlNi oj drill 7.30 to 8.30 p.m. By Order, (Signed) J. JUST HANDCOCK, Capt., Commanding 11th Company.

LLANHARRAN AND YSTRAD HOUNDS Tuesday. March 8th Tho Talbot. Llantrisant Friday, March 11th Llandyfodog At 10.30 a.m.

No MORE GRAY HAIR OK BALD HEADS.—SEE the People s Fireside Journal, this week. All news- agents, Id.; post free, 2d., from 69, Newman-street, London, W.

disunited to secure this recognition except after centuries of bitter struggle, and it is only in our own time that a great statesman has .promised to restore to them their national rights. The efforts of English statesmen to Anglicise Wales have been more insidious. The Tudors forbade the use of the Welsh lan- guage in the law courts, and the statute is Mill on the statute book unrepealed. The gentry and the clergy were easily influenced. and be- came the deriders and opponents of Welsh in- stitutions and Welsh sentiment. But the great heart of the people clung fast to the old lan- guage and national aspirations. Neglect did not kill their love contempt and ridicule failed to move them. And now, after a long winter of oppression and scorn, and the consequent lack of self-assurance, the sunlight of hope is at last dawning, and Welshmen, strong in their patriot- ism and new spirit of self-reliance and sclf-ro- spect, feel a deeper, and a more intelligent affec- tion for "Iaith en mam a gwlad eu tadau," and English Statesmen are at last beginning dimly to realise that it would be better, even for England's sake, to recognise the rights of the other nationalities that it would be better to allow the other nations to develop their peculiar characteristics in their own way and that there is more beauty in harmony than in unison. THE CHURCH IX WALES. Last week, in dealing with the Disestablish- ment debate in the House of Commons, we alluded to the change of front on the part of Liberals and Conservatives with regard to this question. Liberals no longer advocate the Dis- establishment of the Church in Wales on the principle that all religious establishments are not to be tolerated, though of course many still hold that view. They plead for the Disestab- lishment of the Church in Wales because that Church cannot be termed a National Church. It is an alien church in the sense that the majority of the Welsh people have no sympathy with its tenets and its form of government, and that its members are ignorant of or opposed to the national aspirations of Wales. The Tories on the other hand defend the Welsh Church on the ground that it is part and parcel of the English Church, and that its disestablishment will weaken the case of the Church in England. The question is looked upon as a National one. Nothing so clearly brings out this change of front than the ex- cellent letter from Mr. D. A. Thomas, senior M.P. for the Merthvr Boroughs, which appeared in the Times last Monday. We feel sorry that we have not space to quote the letter in extenso. We do not base our special claim for considera- tion in this matter." says Mr. Thomas, "solely or mainly on the ground that the Church in Wales has failed, and is out-numbered by any rival body, though such is undoubtedly the case, but on the ground that the Church has long ceased to be the National Church, not only by reason of the small number of her adherents, but also by reason of the character of that small minority." Lord Salisbury is quoted to prove that the Welsh people are a nation, and have, therefore, claims for special treatment and Archdeacon Howell is quoted to show what the character of the Church minority is. "Above all other causes was the weakness of the Church due to the fact that so much of the best blood of the nation no longer ran in her veins. Her adherents are largely made up of English settlers and Anglicised Welshmen, and not of the Welsh-speaking masses, who hold the future of the Principality in their own hands." In dealing with the alleged Church revival in Wales, Mr. Thomas quotes from the Liandaff Diocesan Calendar. -"There we find," he says, "that Llanwonno, Llwynypia, Tylorstown, and Ystradyfodwg. with a population, according to the Calendar, of, 80,000, have church accommo- dation for 5,739 persons; so we arrive at the conclusion that there is only sitting accommo- dation for about 7 per cent, of the popu- lation. Those who know anything of Wales will appreciate the difference between sittings and sitters. Can you wonder ¡ that the Rhondda collier smiles at the claim of the Establishment to be National?" We are glad to see that the clever and rising young member for Merthyr so truly appreciates the position of Welsh Nationalists on this question. We believe in "Home Rule all round," and, since Wales will have none of the Church of England as by law established, we demand that no Welshman be compelled to support a church whose officials and governors are "appointed by the English Government. We contend that in this matter the opinions of Welshmen only should be consulted. The decision as to whether the Church in Wales should be established or not should be left entirely in the hands of the inhabitants of the Principality. The same privilege which Welsh Nationalists claim for themselves they are wiling to concede to Eng- land. Welshmen claim the right to disestablish an alien Church they are willing, in return for this, to concede to Englishmen the right to maintain by law their National Church, so long as the majority of the English representatives are in favour of the continuance of the Establish- ment. ———————-<>-————————- MANUAL TRAINING IN SCHOOLS. The decisions arrived at by the Barry School at their last two meetings show that the mem- bers are earnestly desirous of placing the local schools on an equality with those in the princi- pal towns of the country. The preliminaries 'have been definitely arranged, and within a few weeks we may expect to find classes in Cookery and Slojd actively at work in our midst. The necessity of our girls being taught Cookery is one so frequently brought before us, that none would object, provided the time be not wasted, in learning a few dishes, which only the most luxurious of our numbers would ever provide. ilt is well to say at once that there is no fear of such a result. Every precaution is taken to en- sure 'that the articles of food shall be those in .ordinary use, and that even the utensils and cooking stove shall be similar to those likely to :be used in the home of the child. Sllijd is a word which does not so readily 'convey its meaning. The name—like the work —is Swedish, and, whilst without any literal English equivalent, is fairly translated by Skill of the hand." The Swedes for many years fhave seen the necessity for educating the hand and -eye, and gradually they have convinced several of -the principal nations that it is essential for •national success to supplement a thorough edu- cation in the usual subjects, with suitable work to give skill to the hand in the application of the knowledge mastered by the brain. Slojd to a great extent has this educational power. The learner has to work step by step from his copy, and to produce a finished article without other aid than the necessary hints from the teacher. There is no division of labour as in ordinary trades, to secure greater rapidity and profit. The Slöjd pupil has to master every part in detail, and when complete the article is entirely of his own make. Usually the material selected for the work of the pupil is wood, and the tools, with one ex- ception, are the more common of those used by carpenters. The great weapon of the Slojdist, however, is one unknown to the English mechanic—the Slojd knife. It is with this tool the principal portions of the work has to be done, the other tools being permitted only for the finishing touches and such parts as the knife could not perform. The question will doubtless be asked. Is this not teaching the whole of our boys to become carpenters ? Certainly not, any more than instruction in drawing will make all boys draughtsmen or architects, or lessons in elementary mechanics produce a multitude of engineers. The lessons in wood work will do little or nothing towards 0 Instructing in any trade, but it will so trai then faculties of the pupil that in any line of life afterwards adopted, the hand will have acquired that cunning to follow the direction of the head, which is so essential to pre-eminence in any manual pursuit, and there is little doubt that by the cultivation of these schemes of manual training, the educational authorities are doing what is imperatively necessary if the people of this country are to retain the proud pre-eminence of their artizans, FO long a dis fcinguishing mark of our native-land. o BANGOR THEOLOGICAL COLEGE. A striking feature of the Welsh movement of to-day is the keenness with which positions in the various educational institutions of the Principality are competed for by men who have had University training. But a few weeks ago no less than seven graduates offered their services to Trevecca College, all, but one, being Oxford and Cambridge men, and of these two First Class men. The Bangor Congregational College is to be congratulated on the chance of securing the services of one or the other of two Welshmen whose career in Oxford has been brilliant—Professor J. E. Lloyd, Aberystwyth, and Mr. Edward Anwyl, Oxford. There can be little doubt that the Committee of election, recognising the necessity of adopting the policy pursued by the Methodists of getting men of the highest possible scholastic qualifications on their college staffs—will find their choice limited to these two gentlemen, these being, so Far as we are aware, the only men in the Welsh Congregational body, with the exception of Professor Keri Evans, possessed of a high degree. Professor Lloyd took a first-class in history, and Mr. Anwyl in classscs. The latter was also Scholar of Oriel, and distinguished himself by his wide learning and tastes for language. He has for the last three years studied Hebrew and Theology at Marsneld. Professor Lloyd has, of course, the advantage )f seven years' teaching at Aberystwyth to counteract the greater classical and theological [earning of his friend and rival. Mr. Anwyl is ivell known as a writer, ahd has been a frequent contributor to the Star. The election of either )f these gentlemen would meet with unqualified ipproval. If Professor Lloyd obtains the post, Mr. Anwyl, it is expected, will naturally step into the Welsh choir at Aberystwyth. In the opinion of a distinguished Welsh scholar it Oxford, he stands far and away above any Dther young Welshman in Philology, and his Celtic learning has always won the praise of Professor Rhys. THE COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS. The Conservatives of Glamorganshire have been making most disingenuous efforts to blind the electors as to the real issue which they will be called upon to decide next Tuesday. In ilmost every instance where a Liberal candidate is being opposed, lie is opposed by an adversary who calls himself an Independent." It is a very significant fact that the Tories of every district arc foremost in supporting these Inde- pendent candidates. These gentlemen say that the reason why they support the Inde- pendents" is, that members of the Council should be chosen irrespective of their politics ind solely on account of their fitness for carry- ing on the administrative duties of the County Council. It is very remarkable that these In- dependent candidates, who are supported by the Tories simply and solely because they are heaven-born administrators, should all belong to the Tory party. Mr. O. H. Jones at Dinas Powis, Mr. Nicholl at Ogmore, Mr. Edwin Price at Bridgend, Mr. Leyshon at Treforest, and Mr. Jones Powell at Pontypridd have all some out as "Independents," and each and all, by some strange coincidence, are members of the Tory party. We trust that the Liberal electors will not be led astray by these repre- sentations. They should remember that, if the County Council has but little political influence at present, larger powers will be granted to it once a Liberal Government is returned to office. For instance, one of the first measures of Mr. Gladstone's next administration will be a measure to Disestablish and Disendow the Church in Wales. How will the Church en- dowments be applied ? It is more than likely that the Government will seek the advice of the County Councils in the matter, and we leave It to our readers to decide whether a Conserva- tive majority would fairly represent the opinions of Welshmen in the matter. Even as it is, the Council exercises a great indirect influence on political affairs. The new Glamorganshire County Council will be asked at its first meet- ing to signify its adherence to' the principle laid down in Mr. Alfred Thomas's Welsh National Institutions' Bill. Of course, Tories will say it matters very little whether the abstract resolution which will be moved by Councillor Morgan Thomas will be carried or not. But if the resolution happened to be negatived, which would undoubtedly happen were the majority of the members of the Coun- cil Conservatives, 'we would not be slow in hearing from the Government and all the oppon- snts of the measure that a Bill, which was re- jected by the largest County Council in Wales, is unworthy of the consideration of the House. The coming elections will also have a great and almost direct influence on the general elec- tion, which will soon follow. Here, again, ex- cept in their unguarded moments, Tories are endeavouring to blind the electors to their responsibility. They try to point out that as the County Council elections are not fought, by the Tories, on political lines, the results will carry with them no political significance. How the results will be really looked upon may be gathered from a paragraph which appeared in the Wales Day by Day" column of the We stern Mail on Wednesday. In that bright, and interesting column the following paragraph appeared Comfort for Baron Profumo In South Monmouthshire, of twelve members elected unopposed to the County Council, ten are Conservatives and two Radicals. Looks healthy, eh ?" The Western Mail has been frank enough to acknowledge that the result of the coming elections will be considered as a criterion of the relative strength of the two parties in the country. We trust that, in face of these facts, no Liberal will be blind to the real points at issue. Mr. Evan Evans is opposed in the Ogrnorc Divi- sion, not because he has inefficiently discharged his duties on the Council, but because he is a Liberal. Mr. D. H. Lloyd at Bridgend, Mr.W. Spickett and Mr. II. S. David at ^Pontypridd, Mr. J. P. Jones and Mr. Shepherd at Penarth, are fighting for Liberalism, and their opponents, under whatever neutral banner they may for the present range themselves, are fighting the battle of Toryism. Liberals should, therefore, rally round the champions of their cause, and by returning them by overwhelming majorities convince the Tories that the task of opposing Mr. S. T. Evans, Mr. Arthur Williams, Mr. Alfred Thomas, and Mabon" at the next general election is a hopeless one. THE PROPOSED RIXG IN THE COAL TRADE. Much has lately been heard of Trades Unionism, old and new, but we now hear of a strong and startling development, for which most of us arc quite unprepared. The Miners' Federation of Great Britain are practically asking the employers to unite with the men in forming a gigantic "ring" or "trust" in coal, which will help to keep up the present high prices of coal and high wages of colliers. The Federation proposes that on the 12th of March the whole of the colliers in the Federation should go out on a friendly fortnight's strike' or play." It is thought that by this means a scarcity of coal will ensue, and that the public will be compelled by lack of supply to pay the present high prices. The object of the Federa- tion is not to combine masters and men in a bid for increased prices, but simply to maintain the present prices. We greatly doubt, how- ever, the efficacy of an experiment which has been tried before in other industries and almost invariably with disastrous results and which will alienate from the miners the sympathies of the great mass of the working population of this country. In the first place, before a "ring" can hope to be successful, it must be able to control the whole, or at all events, the greater part, of the trade. The Federation does not do this. It is strong only in the Midland and-North-West counties of England. South Wales miners are content with the working of the Sliding Scale, xnd, rather than join the Federation in an uni- versal strike, have lately accepted the reduction bhat was offered them by the Sliding Scale Committee. The miners of Northumberland have only quite recently accepted a reduction of 5 per cent., and the miners of South Stafford- shire will have nothing to do with the Federa- tion. The Durham miners, though they are autside the Federation, will give valuable, though indirect, support to the Federation, if bhey continue in their determination to strike igainst a reduction. But even if the Durham miners persist, the Federation's experi- ment must be doomed to failure, as long as South Wales, South Stafford- shire, and Northumberland, remain outside. No coal-owner will care to stand by and see his neighbour reap a golden harvest; and no miner will like to play for a fortnight when their brother miner is earning double wages. The scheme is also, to our mind, directly opposed te the best traditions of English trade and com- merce. The principle on which England's commercial greatness has been founded is the principle of free trade and free competition, and Englishmen will naturally look with great suspicion on all schemes which try to place an artificial restriction on the output of coal or on the manufacture of necessary articles. No one will grudge the miner his holiday or his fair wage but the sense of the community will rebel against a holiday whose only object will be to produce, a scarcity of such a necessary article of daily consumption as coal. More- over, we fail to see how the miner himself will be benefitted, even if the Federation succeeds. If the miner, by taking a fortnight's holiday, will earn his present wage, it should be remem- bered that by so doing he will be sacrificing the wages of a fortnight. If a fortnight's holiday is found to be insufficient for the pur- pose, it is proposed to take anpther fortnight's holiday in the course of the year. We fail to see how the net earnings of the miner will be greater at the end of the year if, in order to prevent a five per cent reduction, he has to sacrifice a month's earnings, which practically means a reduction of nearly 8t per cent. J OTTINGS ON POLITICS. As befitted a good Welshman I went down to the House to the disestablishment debate. The galleries of the House were very full, and I noticed several prominent Welshmen, including1 the Bishop and Dean of St. Asaph present. On the whole the House was well filled throughout as both sides had issued a four-lined whip. POOR SAMUEL. "There never lived a nationyet could ruleanother well." This to me was the moral, of most of the lebate and the division, and in speaking- of the debate. I don't confine myself to one side only. Samuel, good, honest dour Scotchman mad*} a mess of it. For rather he was the wrong man in the wrong- place. To Samuel Smith all Welsh ecclesiastical history was the record of nepotism and abuses until the Welsh people agreed to worship in chapels of different denominations, and to work out their religion from the pure light of the Gospel. Samuel meant to be kind, and in that pious, bilious, manner that always stamps the Saxon Puritan, kind he was, but what a kindness All, Mr. Editor, I sat in the gallery, and blushed for my country. It's a terribly wicked' thing to say. but I don't appreciate the goody-good. For a nation of the goody-good entre noun no patriot could live or die. I think too well of Wales to think that she is goody-good, as Sam Smith seems to think. And so, a la Oxford, I commence to parody Swinburne :— She could not love or hate, he told us, She has not any sting, In Goù's namc, then, what plague befell us To tight for such a thing. Some faults the gods will give to fetter Man's highest intent, But surely she is something better Than innocent. If Llangwm and Meifod had not stood behind Sam Smith, Welsh Disestablishment would have collapsed in ridicule. Sam Smith went utterly wrong, too, on several points. He slanged a certain poor Church Cate- cism for teaching the confessional and prayers for the dead. This was cruelly rough on the Calvinis- tic Methodists, who accept as their standard of faith the Articles of the Church of England, under- stood in a Calvinistic sense. The Courts have held that the English Church Articles do not exclude prayers for the dead, and confessional is also allowed by the same Articles, and, by the way, was approved by Calvin himself. I don't care about taking the tithe to teach those doctrines, and I know the Methodists don't believe them. All the same, their confession of faith does. Samuel was ill in health, and his delivery was poor. DILLWYN'S FAILURE. Theodore Dodd was too generous to Dillwyn. He really did badly. He said with one breath the Church was increasing, and then that it could not. ENGLAND TO THE RESCUE. When Dillwyn sat down, things looked had for Wales, and they looked worse as the Solicitor- General proceeded in his eloquent and cavalier speech. Old Bailey form sneered the Bail y A'nvx next day. But this was unjust. Sir Edward is one of the few great lawyers in this. or perhaps in any century, who honestly believes his politics, anil I think I may add his religion. Not that I think he understands it. His speech was the speech of a High Churchman who does not understand, and yet believes in his own doctrines. You are as much," he argued, "established as we. You Dis- senters cannot get outside State control. Witness your trust deeds. You you have to come to Parliament to get them altered. There is only one Catholic Church in England and Wales, and by that Church the Tory party wilU. stand to the last. We have abuses. Y111 of the Welsh party which obstructed the Clergy Discipline Bill are respon- sible (X B.The Church Timex says. No) for the fact that they are not removed. You, the dis- senting bodies, minister to the few we are the Church of the many, even if they be the godless and the drunkard. I believe in a clergyman resident in each parish whe has not to work for his bicad. Between Wales and England I admit no difference. Nationalism is a pretty dream. There is one church for both countries. By that Church we stand or fall." And from the squires and the clerics went up a mighty cheer. NAM BY PAJIOY PHILOSOPHY. And then no Welsman arose. And this was the most latai error our party made. Of course a Welshman ought; to have answered Sir Eiiward. But etiquette prevailed, and poor Wales had to suffer the infliction of a second Scotch bore. Mr. Bryce talked namby pambv. He told the House he had been in Wales. 'Twas well he did it: no one would have guessed it. One good point he made, and one only if you disestablish the Welsh you strengthen the English Church. But for a lawyer and a historian his a great disappointment. His refer- ence to Ireland was proof sufficient that he did not grasp the question. ARTHUR WILLIAMS AND SIR JOHN. Afterwards the South II ales Star came into evidence in the person of Arthur Williams and the speech of Sir John Puelston. Both these gentlemen acquitted themselves well. Sir John's speech was a carefully prepared attack on Lloyd George. In its way it was good. The only pity of it was that George was not in the House when the first part of it was delivered. Sir John, however, raised a good point which has yet to be answered. What do you mean by disendowment ? He also held THEODORE DODD at his rival's head, quoting an extract from that gentleman's open letter in the South Wale* Star. Disestablishment does not call for such violent language" or something of the sort He also tried to make George responsible for the Republican articles in the North Wales Obxerrer. Arthur Williams spoke well, and like a gentleman. In fact, his speech was miles above those of Dillwyn and S. Smith. He made a real point on the social position of the curate as compared with that of the far abler Dissenting minister. THE OLD AND NEW TORY FOR DENBIGHSHIRE. West and Kenyon both spoke. The latter pro- tested against arguments against statistics at services, as he himself—an excellent Churchman— lid not go to Church regularly. West completely ibandoned the Liberal party. He spoke, however, like a gentleman, and I felt sorry for him. He ready. he said. to make any sacrifice for reli- gious equality. If all denominations could be put an a level, he was willing. Bat he could net swallow the advanced Liberationist. He would not ;ee the Church stripped TO THE LAST BAG. He could not sacrifice the fabrics. I felt deeply for the Colonel. There was point and truth in wlnt. he said: but, alas he has turned his bacK an Welsh nationalism. He has sacrificed Ireland 1ud if Wales will not hear him. on his shoulders rests the blame and yet I must say it-I do wish that some of the Gladstonian Church members would sometimes say a kind word for their Church. Nonconformists love their denominations. If I udge by their speeches and letters, I should almost say that the Rendels and the D. A. Thomases hate theirs. Nonconformists think none the better of bhem for this. I say this openly: rerbum sap. WALES, And then George spoke for Wales. It was a fine speech, though I have heard him make finer. But bhe Cambrian mountain air blew right through his appeal for justice. Some irrelevant and one or bwo rather unworthy remarks he did make. But although the Tories jeered his appeal the English justice was fine." It is an alien Church, and you have made it one. You forced it on us by your Norman knights, and we protested against it then. The proudest chivalry in Europe failed, and will you succeed by the bailiffs of your County Courts. For the honour of your own Church I ask for justice. The Liberals cheered but very mildly. Truth be told I think they were frightened. and the Tories jeered. And once again the inability of the Saxon to rule the Celt was apparent. George rendered us a great service for which we may well forgive the fault of tactics, the lapses into temper which disfigured his previous orations. His was the only speech on our side. THE EKD. Byron Reed replied for the English Church, but his speech was, as his own side thought, in doubtful taste. And then as Osborne Morgan rose and once more exhibited his ignorance of Wales and his thinly veiled contempt for the Church that has made him what he is I withdrew, having sat for five and a half hours. THE MORAL. And the moral, gentle reader. The moral is that Welsh Nationalism is not only the best argument for Disestablishment. Truth be told it is the only honest one. ALIQUIS.